Tool post clamp for radial press

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a tool holding clamp for a multiple change of tools for radial presses, where said presses comprise a plurality of radial jaws ( 12, 12′ ) onto which the tools ( 14 ) are mounted and where tools and jaws are provided with complementary coupling means, such as radial pins ( 15 ) and relative slots ( 16 ). The clamp presents centering devices, working together with the radial press to guarantee alignment of said complementary devices when the tools are mounted onto the jaws of the press. A tool holding rack for radial presses also constitutes the object of the invention, and is provided with devices adapted to interacting with the tool holding clamp for positioning the tools onto said clamp in the position of alignment with the jaws of the press.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to both horizontal and vertical typeradial presses, for example for connecting flexible tubes, and refers,in particular, to a tool holding clamp supplied with devices forcentering the tools on these presses.

The invention also relates to a new tool holding rack for verticalradial presses configured to assist the improved clamp in question.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As is known, in order to be able to perform the pressing of parts withvarious diameters, radial presses are supplied with an equal number ofsets of interchangeable tools, which are essentially made up of circlesector section blocks, to be applied to respective radial jaws on thepress. To assist and speed up operations of tool changing, a toolholding clamp is used, which is configured to take all of the tools atthe same time from a tool holding rack, which are suitable for pressinga tube with a specific diameter; these are mounted onto-the press injust one operation and, inversely, dismounted from the press just asquickly, and placed back in the rack at the same time.

For this purpose, each tool is fitted with a radial pin to be insertedand locked in a respective slot provided in the radial jaws, once theclamp has been placed in the central opening of the machine, when thesejaws are commanded to close on it.

At present, however, the positioning of the pressing tool pins levelwith the slots in the jaws is performed without the aid of any centeringsystem, and consequently requires great care by the operator, so thatwhen closing, the jaws do not cause the pins to break. This is aparticular inconvenience in the case of vertical presses, which alsorequire angular alignment of the tools in relation to the jaws, as forthe horizontal presses, besides axial alignment. In fact, in this typeof press, the tools, which have different lengths depending on thediameter of the flexible tube to be pressed, must nonetheless always bein the center of the press, and so it is not possible to perform axialcentering simply by resting the tool holding clamp against the frontsurface of the press.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to remedy this inconvenience byproposing a tool holding clamp for radial presses as described below.

Another object of the invention is to resolve the problem of centeringthe tools on the respective jaws in the case of vertical radial presses,by proposing a clamp and a tool holding rack that are configured tointeract as described further below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further details of the invention will, in any case, become clearer fromthe following description referring to the attached drawings, which areexemplary and not limiting, wherein:

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an axial section of a tool holding clamp according tothe invention for vertical radial presses, with the magnet holder discin a backward and forward position respectively;

FIG. 3 shows a transverse section of the clamp along line A-A in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4 and 4 a show a side and front view of one of the tool holdingshells of a tool holding rack according to the invention for verticalradial presses, in the tool locking position;

FIGS. 5 and 5 a show views similar to the previous ones, but with theshell in the tool unlocking position;

FIG. 5 b shows a transverse section of an enlarged detail of FIG. 5 a;

FIG. 6 shows a section of part of a tool holding rack for verticalradial presses, where a clamp is inserted into each shell for removingthe tools;

FIGS. 7 and 7 a show an axial section and front view of the tool holdingclamp during the assembly phase of the tools onto a vertical radialpress;

FIG. 8 shows a view similar to the one in FIG. 7, but with the clampcarrying a set of tools of differing sizes;

FIG. 9 shows an axial section of a tool holding clamp for horizontalradial presses inserted into one of these presses;

FIG. 10 shows a front view of the clamp and press in FIG. 9; and

FIGS. 11 and 12 show views similar to those in FIGS. 9 and 10, but withthe clamp in an alternative embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the drawings, two vertical and horizontal presses 10, 11 are shownfully, provided with a plurality of radial jaws 12, 12′, respectively,marking a central opening 13 intended to receive the end of a piece offlexible tube to be connected. The jaws 12, 12′ can be moved between anopen, inactive position and a closed position for pressing a connectiononto the tube. In the case of vertical radial presses 10, theclosing/opening of the jaws 12 on the tube is carried out by a verticalmovement, approaching/removing one block 10′ on the press in relation toanother, whereas in the case of horizontal radial presses 11 theclosing/opening of the jaws 12′ is controlled by a horizontally moveablepiston 11′. The structure and working of these presses are, in any case,known and need no particular description herein.

In any case, a pressing tool 14 is to be mounted onto each jaw, which isbasically constituted of a circle sector section block. In order forthese to be coupled, the pressing tools 14 and the jaws 12, 12′ areprovided with a radial pin 15 and a corresponding slot 16 respectivelysuitable for receiving said pin. A lock pin 17 is also inserted intoeach jaw perpendicularly to the slot 16, which, stressed by a backspring 17′, tends to constrain the tool pin 15 to the jaw when it isfully inserted into the slot 16.

For the purpose of mounting/dismounting all of the pressing tools 14 atthe same time onto/from the respective jaws 12, 12′, tool holding clampsare provided, which are adapted to take the tools from a rack, move themand place them in the central opening 13 on the press, and vice versa,always keeping them in a circular position. In this way, when the clampis inserted into the center of the press, the tools 14 are already inposition to be hooked by the relative jaws when they are commanded toclose.

In the case of vertical radial presses 10, and with reference to FIGS.1-8, the present invention proposes a tool holding clamp 18 and a toolholding rack 28 configured to guarantee angular and axial centering ofthe pressing tools 14 on the jaws 12 of these presses.

The tool holding clamp 18 has a grip handle 19 from which a fixed pin 20comes out axially. A sliding pin 21 is placed around the fixed pin 20,and a normal disc 22 is fixed with a ring of magnets on its distal endprotruding from the handle 19; the tools 14 are attached to thesemagnets with the aid of a ring of pins 23, extending from this disc tobe inserted into corresponding holes 14′ made in the tools 14. Thesliding pin 21 with the magnet holder disc 22 is able to translateaxially along the fixed pin 20 between two extreme positions, backwards,in which it finds itself completely contained in the handle 19, andforwards, passing through a plurality of intermediate positions. Thesliding pin 21 is pushed towards the forward position by a spring 23located inside the handle 19 and can be stopped in the backward positionand in each of the intermediate positions using the locking devices withwhich the manually operable clamp is fitted. In the form of embodimentdescribed in FIGS. 1-3, the sliding pin 21 has a plurality of transversegrooves 21′ in each of which, selectively, it engages a small stopcylinder 24 set transversely in the handle 19 and stressed by a spring24′. A button 25 is connected to the small cylinder 24 which[,] releasesit from the grooves 21′ when it is pressed, allowing the sliding pin 21to slide onto the fixed one 20.

A plate for angular centering 26 is also fixed on the distal end of theclamp handle 19; this plate is fitted, at the top, with a pair ofmushroom pins 27 and, at the bottom, with a pair of pins 35. This plate26 is intended to rest on the front part of the press 10, which will bedescribed in further detail later on.

A plurality of tool holding shells 29 is located in the tool holdingrack 28, one for each sized tool 14. Each shell 29 is made up, as isknown, of a cylindrical cover, in which longitudinal splits 30 are made,and these are open at the front and terminate at the back with a slot30′ that is inclined at 90° in relation to the splits 30. When the toolsare positioned in their relative shells 29, the radial pins 15 are levelwith the slots 30′, so that the tools cannot be removed from the shellexcept after being rotated, which causes alignment of the pins 15 withthe longitudinal splits 30. According to the invention, the body of eachshell 29 is crossed longitudinally and level with the two slots 30′ thatare diametrically opposite a pair of cylindrical rods 31, each of whichpresents a portion 31′ of reduced section, for example semi-cylindrical.The two rods 31 are connected at the back by a plate 32, which isparallel to the back wall 33 of the rack. Normally, the rods 31 are heldby relative springs 34, situated between one of their heads 31″protruding, at the front, from the shell 29, and the shell itself, in aforward position where the plate 32 is detached from the back wall 33 ofthe rack and the reduced section portions 31′ are inside the body of theshell—FIGS. 4, 4 a. In this position, the tools cannot be rotated, sincetwo pins 15 are locked in the relative slots 30′ by the rods 31.

In order to unlock the tools, it is necessary for the tool holding clamp18 to be inserted fully into the shells 29 until the fixed pin 20 pushesthe plate 32 so that it touches the back wall 33 of the rack. Then, thereduced section portions 31′ of the rods are level with the slots 30′allowing the tool pins 15 to rotate—FIGS. 5, 5 a and 5 b. At this point,when the button 25 on the clamp handle 19 is pressed, the magnet holderdisc 22 comes into close contact with the tools, which can then berotated and removed from the shell.

As may be seen from FIG. 6, the two states of the fixed pin 20, pushedagainst the back wall 33 of the rack and magnet holder disc 22 touchingthe tools 14, guarantees that the X distance between the clamp centeringplate 26 and the radial pins 15, which coincides with the distancebetween the front plane of the press, where the clamp, and its center istouching, is always the same regardless of the size of the tools. Inthis way, axial centering of the tool pins, whatever their length, isalways achieved in relation to the slots 16 in the jaws.

As for angular centering, the upper block 10′ of the vertical press issupplied with a pair of “U” guides 34 where the mushroom pins 27 of thecentering plate 26 are to be inserted. The guides 34, therefore,determine the exact angular position of the tool holding clamp, whenthis is resting on the front part of the press, thus constraining thisposition, also when the upper block 10′ is lowered towards the lowerblock and contributes to supporting the weight of the clamp with thetools. The guides 34 are also configured complementarily with themushroom pins 27, so that the clamp can only be released from the guidesby lifting it but not by removing it axially, thus avoiding any risk ofthe clamp falling forwards towards the operator. Moreover, the supportof the pins 35 against the lower block of the press guarantees stabilityand also that the clamp always stays perpendicular to the press,contributing to making operations of tool assembly/disassembly safe andeasy.

FIGS. 7-8 illustrate two examples of application of the tools 14 to avertical press 10, where the tools are of differing sizes. In theseFigures it is possible to observe that, in the case of longer tools, thesliding pin 21 is in a backward position, and fully contained inside thehandle 19, whereas for shorter tools, the sliding pin is in a forwardposition, so that the X height between the centering plate and themedian plane of the press, where the slots of the jaws rest, is alwaysconstant.

In the case of horizontal radial presses 11, and with reference to FIGS.9-12, the proposed tool holding clamp 118 is provided only with theusual magnet holder disc 122 and an angular centering plate 126, whichis integral at the distal end of the handle 119 and designed to restagainst a front surface of the horizontal press 11, when the clamp isinserted into the central opening 13 of the press.

In particular, in a first example of embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 9and 10, the diameter of the centering plate 126 is such as to restagainst the front flange 11′ of the press and is fitted with a pair ofpins 127 to be inserted in corresponding holes 127′ in said flange 11′.

In a second example of embodiment relating to FIGS. 11 and 12, thecentering of the tool holding clamp exploits the front plane of the jaws12′ and the guide dowels 17″ of the lock pins 17, these protruding fromsaid front plane. For this purpose, a plurality of radial slots 128 ismade in the centering plate 126, where said guide dowels of the pins 17″are inserted and free to slide when the plate 126 is resting against thefront plane of the jaws 12′.

In the case of horizontal presses, it is possible to use a normal toolholding shell, since axial centering is not required.

1. Tool holding clamp for a multiple change of tools for radial presses,where said presses comprise a plurality of radial jaws onto which thetools are mounted, and where tools and jaws are provided withcomplementary coupling means, wherein the clamp has centering devices,co-operating with the radial press to guarantee alignment of saidcomplementary coupling means during the act of mounting the tools ontothe jaws of the press.
 2. Tool holding clamp according to claim 1,further comprising an angular centering plate to be rested against afront surface of the press, said press and said front surface presentingcomplementary centering devices.
 3. Tool holding clamp for horizontalradial presses according to claim 2, wherein said centering devicescomprise at least one pin, which extends from the centering plate forinsertion into a corresponding hole made in the press, or vice versa. 4.Tool holding clamp for horizontal radial presses according to claim 1,wherein each radial jaw is provided with a lock pin for locking the toolapplied to it, and wherein a guide dowel is connected to said pinprotruding from the jaw at its front.
 5. Tool holding clamp forhorizontal radial presses according to claim 4, comprising an angularcentering plate where a plurality of radial slots is made, said platebeing intended to rest on the front surface of the jaws so that saidguide dowels of the pins are inserted and free to slide in said slots.6. Tool holding clamp for vertical radial presses according to claim 2,where said presses comprise a mobile block, which can be moved in heightin relation to a fixed block, in which at least one pair of mushroompins and at least one pair of pins or similar components extend from theangular centering plate, the at least one pair of mushroom pins beingintended to be inserted into corresponding U guides provided on themobile block, the at least one pair of pins or similar components beingintended to rest on the fixed block of the vertical press, said U guidesalso being configured to allow axial locking of the tool holding clamp.7. Tool holding clamp for vertical radial presses according to claim 6,comprising a disc fixed to the distal end of a grip handle and fittedwith check devices where the tools are constrained, and a fixed pin,which extends axially from said grip handle, said disc beingtranslatable along said fixed pin and being lockable in a positiondetermined by the length of the tools so that when the clamp is restingon the front surface of the press, said tools are always aligned axiallywith the jaws whatever their length is.
 8. Tool holding clamp forvertical radial presses according to claim 7, wherein said disc is fixedto the distal end of a pin placed coaxially around the fixed pin andsliding on this between a backward position, where it is completelycontained inside the grip handle, corresponding to the carrying oflonger tools, and a forward position, corresponding to the carrying ofshorter tools, passing through a plurality of intermediate positions,corresponding to the carrying of intermediate length tools.
 9. Toolholding clamp for vertical radial clamps according to claim 8, whereinthe sliding pin is normally pushed into a forward position by a backspring located in the grip handle, and where said handle is providedwith stop devices that interact with said sliding pin to lock this in abackward position and in the intermediate positions.
 10. Tool holdingclamp for vertical radial clamps according to claim 8, wherein said stopdevices comprise a small cylinder, which is set transversely in thehandle and selectively engaging, stressed by a relative spring, in aplurality of transverse grooves made in the sliding pin, a button beingconnected to said small cylinder, which, when pressed releases it fromthe grooves allowing the sliding pin to slide on the fixed one.
 11. Toolholding rack for vertical radial presses provided with devices that aresuitable for interacting with the tool holding clamp for positioning thetools on said clamp in the position of alignment with the jaws of thepress.
 12. Tool holding rack for vertical radial presses according toclaim 11, comprising a plurality of tool holding shells, each containinga set of equal sized tools (4 for fitting onto the jaws of the press bymeans of a tool holding clamp wherein each tool holding shell is fittedwith mobile devices that interact with said clamp and are suitable forallowing the removal of the tools only when the clamp is in a pre-setposition of reference to determine the positioning of the disc with thecheck devices of the tools along the fixed pin depending on the lengthof the tools, contained within the shell.
 13. Tool holding rack forvertical radial presses according to claim 12, where each tool holdingshell presents a cylindrical body with longitudinal splits, which areopen at the front and terminate at the back with a slot that is inclinedat 90° in relation to said splits and where each tool is provided with aradial pin that engages normally in said slot, sliding in acorresponding longitudinal split to remove the tools from the shellafter rotation, which is controlled by the tool holding clamp, whereinthe body of each shell is crossed longitudinally by at least twodiametrically opposed cylindrical rods passing through respective slots,said rods being connected at the back by a plate, which is parallel to aback wall of the rack, and being movable axially between a forwardposition for locking the radial pins in said slots, and so also thetools in the shell, and a backward unlocking position of said pins, saidrods being normally held in a forward locking position by relativesprings and being movable in the backward unlocking position after athrust by said plate against the back wall of the rack by the fixed pinon the clamp.
 14. Tool holding rack for vertical radial pressesaccording to claim 13, wherein each rod presents a section which issized to interfere with the radial pins and a portion of reducedsection, which allows said pins to pass under the rods, said portion ofreduced section being level with the slots in the body of the shell onlywhen the rods are in the backward position.
 15. Radial press,particularly, but not exclusively, for connecting flexible tubes,comprising a plurality of radial jaws onto which respective pressingtools are mounted, where tools and jaws are provided with complementarycoupling means, such as radial pins and relative slots, furthercomprising centering devices, working together with the tool holdingclamp claimed in claim 1, to guarantee alignment of said complementarydevices when the tools are mounted onto the jaws.
 16. Tool holding clampaccording to claim 1, wherein the complimentary coupling means comprisesradial pins and corresponding slots.